Description
Ermenegildo Zegna is launching a new collection of men’s fragrances – Essenze by Ermenegildo Zegna in collaboration with Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. The collection is expected on the market in December 2012.
Five new fragrances embody values of the company – passion, commitment, vision. The fragrances are: Italian Bergamot, Sicilian Mandarin, Javanese Patchouli, Indonesian Oud and Florentine Iris. The designer was inspired by his luxurious high-end men’s Ermenegildo Zegna Couture Collection and hopes it will put forward the house’s name in the world of fragrances.
Perfumers who worked on perfumes of the new collection are: Pierre Negrin, Frank Voelkl, Harry Fremont and Jacques Cavallier. All fragrances have one ingredient in common: Calabrian bergamot, but have very different compositions. An interesting fact is that Zegna owns the bergamot harvest used in this collection.
Notes of Sicilian Mandarin are mandarin, bergamot, spearmint, petitgrain and moss.
The fragrances will be available in 124 ml (4.2 oz) flacons. Each fragrance and its flacon have a different color, to mark the central ingredient of the fragrance.
kalekse111 – :
I like it at first sniff, but later it mellowed down to a not so good petit grain and oak scent. I believe better spices should have been added
maximkasid1 – :
This opens with citrus being the dominant vibe, primarily the mandarin itself but also the bergamot accompanying it, which is rounded off and tempered by the freshness of the mint and the greenness of the oakmoss and petitgrain. The way the green notes combine with the citrus is superb, playing the background to the lead role of the citrus. The result is a fragrance that is fresh, lively and classy.
If I were to sum up this fragrance in one phrase I would say that it reminds me of a green (unripe) mandarin which fell from the tree prematurely. Whilst unmistakably being mandarin, it never fully ripened and sweetened like the other mandarins on the tree and therefore kept some of its sour taste and remains true to its green colour.
The combination of the citrus and green nuances in this is much akin to typical EDC type fragrances, and therefore this won’t smell new or unique in itself. However, this has been so expertly blended and is just such an excellent fragrance, far above any other cologne I’ve smelled. Unique – maybe not; excellent – without a doubt.
Scent: 9
Versatility: 8
Uniqueness: 5
Performance: 8
petru80 – :
Excellent citrus, has enough sweetness and sourness and lasts for good time in the heat of summer, much better than Italian bergamot one from the same line.
LepleFave2001 – :
Wow! what a great smelling fragrance! Fresh, classy and long lasting! Citrus done right. quality evident throughout. Can’t believe this hasn’t gotten more talk. truly a hidden gem.
mitica – :
I don’t even like oranges or mandarin in scents but this ladies and gentleman has got to be 1 of the juiciest, authentic ones out there.
I’m big on opening notes and an unashamed top-heavy scent lover (they have to be good enough of course!) but even I have to admit this opening was simply stunning, it almost blew me away.
It is a photo-realistic mandarin, cut and with the full-bodied and wonderfully refreshing juices just seeping.
There is mostly the juice and pulp but what sets it apart is even through the use of the bitter petitgrain there is an amazing juicy-sweetness.
I’ll have to give this one a 6/10 overall for me personally, even I would not mind a wear or 3 of this in summer time and again – but on the Quality front, it’s a 10 all day any day.
The much vaunted (and more expensive) Jardin d’Amalfi by Creed and Frederic Malle’s Biggarade do not even come close!
There’s nothing that does mandarin like this out there save for the irrelevant solinote scents from indies.
Not to my tastes for fruity-frag, but one word: magnificent
Mackenzie_fromAF – :
Stunning stunning stunning ! This fragrance is beautiful… the mandarin is so pure and untouched.
Beautifully crafted and smells gorgeous!
I don’t think a fragrance could get any better than this !
lenalena – :
I first smelled this on a friend who was visiting and I was really impressed! now I have a bottle but unfortunately it doesn’t suit me personally but it is really beautiful, classy and as the name suggests, mandarin.
All the perfumes in this Zegna line are about 200 euros a bottle which is really expensive but they are also all class.
rustam-zubarev – :
Yet another gorgeous Zegna Essenze scent. A beautiful smell of juicy mandarin with an edible zesty-sweet backing create a stunning earthy citrus.
The opening is to die for; a wave of freshly peeled mandarin blasts forward, with already a light earthy edge waiting behind. As time goes on and the heart reveals itself, the zesty mandarin turns sweet and perhaps some sharp mint fleetingly lingers.
As the scent progresses, the oakmoss becomes clearer and clearer whilst the mandarin fades off. A masculine earthy dry down.
This smells incredibly smooth and surprisingly dark. If you have smelled Creed’s Jardin d’Amalfi, this smells like its masculine counterpart.
Longevity is about 7-8 hours, with 3-4 hours of good projection.
Stunning.
ya76 – :
I find this to be the Cherry Coke to Italian Bergamot’s Coke. It’s mostly the same as IB, but some orange notes pop through from time to time. Don’t get this thinking it is a fall over orange scent but rather IB with some orange that peeks through.
zla915JeomiWogkig – :
Genuine mandarin scent! Top notes smell exactly the way mandarin peel smells. Just beautiful! Later it’s more green and minty, but it’s lovely all the time.
lequh2 – :
This is a truly pleasant surprise from Ermenegildo Zegna: lovely, fresh and airy yet dark citrus with lots of bittersweet mandarin peel, petitgrain, oakmoss and a touch of mint. The drydown is a smoothly green, woody and mossy dream that lingers for a long time. Impressive!
dishim – :
Great scent. Very fresh, actually the freshest among the Sicilian Mandarin, Italian Bergamot and Mediterranean Neroli. I’ve gotten compliments when wearing it. Longevity and sillage are just average, not as great as the Italian Bergamot and Mediterranean Neroli. Still, I love it. Sure!
GIGBOY – :
I just can’t help giggling when a mainstream fragrance company expands its portfolio by launching a supposedly exclusive range of scents. What many of these brands don’t seem to get is that producing true niche fragrances is not so much about expensive materials, fancy flacons, ludicrous backstories or exorbitant price tags. Masterful blending, willingness to push the envelope and, above all, a competent creative direction also play a vital role in the process.
The Italian company “Ermenegildo Zegna” has been around for about a hundred years, producing chic men’s clothes and accessories. As for their fragrances, I vaguely remember smelling one of their mainstream concoctions- a totally clichéd mix aimed at gentlemen for whom spritzing on their “cologne” is nothing more than a mundane morning routine whose sole purpose is to cover up all traces of body odour. So when I learnt Zegna had introduced their exclusive “Essenze” collection, I first produced the aforementioned giggle and rolled my eyes. Here we go again! But after reading a couple of favourable reviews, I was curious to try them for myself to see if the praise was justified. So far I’ve sampled five Essenze scents and I can conclude that what these fragrances lack in the originality department is generously made up for in terms of quality, consistency and, yes, competent creative direction.
It is my firm belief that when it comes to summer scents, there is hardly anything more uplifting and satisfying than a well-made, citrus-based eau de cologne. Nonetheless, there’s a downside and a quite a substantial one at that- the fleeting nature of its notes that makes the pleasure extremely short-lived. “Sicilian Mandarin” is Zegna’s attempt at composing a cologne-style fragrance. The result? An impressive one indeed! It opens with a burst of mandarin which is zesty rather than sweet and truly natural smelling. The mandarin is backed up by bergamot (also a natural note, reportedly from Zegna’s very own Calabrian orchard). On my skin, during the first fifteen minutes the mandarin and the bergamot play a tug of war in which the latter note eventually prevails. The citruses eventually land on a gentle mossy base. For a citrus-centred fragrance, “Sicilian Mandarin” has a decent longevity, but (not surprisingly) a reapplication will be necessary every three or four hours.
“Sicilian Mandarin”, just like its siblings from the Essenze family, doesn’t beat about the bush when it comes to its composition. It also lacks profound complexity, which is not necessarily a problem provided that things are done with care and dedication. All in all, “Sicilian Mandarin” is a very solid and pleasant scent that successfully captures the essence of summer. Ben fatto!
Norrerssona – :
A more balanced modification of Armani Prive Oranger Alhambra.
It also has much in common with Italian Bergamot, and seemingly contains Neroli as well. But I cannot find neroli or orange blossom in the accords, nor detect any oakmoss by my nose.
This one is much better than Italian Bergamot, and does not have a disturbing cheapy air-freshener-ish citrus smell like IB, which just cannot be better anymore.
It may not have a distinctive character from other citrus colognes, but acts like a beacon of “THE LESS IS MORE”.
Longevity: 6-10 hrs, moderate projection for the first 2-3 hour, then turns to be a skin scent. Rating: 8.5/10
Efforptraitted – :
the sicilian mandarin is my favourite from the collection • it is bright sparkling citrus, woody and earthy too • above all, it smells real and somehow closest to nature • you get the zesty fruit, the green leaves, the tree, the branches, the twigs, the soil where it grows and everything in between • initially, it starts slightly aldehydic and soapy to my nose • this may not be as ‘resfreshing’ citrus fragrance as many would expect it to be, yet it has the therapeutic charms • and that therapeutic charms lends class to this fragrance • great longevity while its projection is moderate •
google – :
mandarin, bergamot, spearmint, petitgrain and moss, so it is soury, fresh and clean mandarin, light touch of sweetness is nice plus petitgrain make it bit bitter and I love little touch of moss to make woody vibe in dry down, i love to wear it for work, casual and work
i rate it 9/10
it safe for blind buy? YES, absolutely
Crorsonoemege – :
The ESSENZE collection was mastered beautifully .You have to appreciate them, for what they are, simple yet elegant fragrances, made in EAU DE TOILETTE form, out of excellent materials, that smell natural, and nicer than a lot of EAU DE PARFUM scents .I only state this, because each scent, contains very few ingredients. Truly underrated bunch . Sicilian Mandarin is my EZ top pick .
podstavkin – :
An underestimated classy refreshing fragrance I think. A perfect second skin for hot summer! Longevity is quite surprising for a citrus and it never turns anything sour or powdery. It is mandarin wrapped in green (moss) which makes it different than most of the other orange and mandarin fragrances that tends towards a bitter or blossom & floral approach. Mint is present but really discreet on me. Part of the « Essenze » collection, this one is in the tradition of ultra fresh cologne, without the soapy side.
This fragrance loves the sun! Rare are the citrus fragrances that can surround you with a true refreshing feeling. I’m pretty sure, here, they’ve managed to bottle wind!!! And on cooler days it is definitely greener on me. The presentation & the bottles in the Essenze collection are simply stunning and the magnetic cap… clever!
Ermenegildo Zegna doesn’t go for novelty or try to break any boundaries with SICILIAN MANDARIN, but sometimes good is just… perfect!
gatloacilia – :
I had to click ‘Love’ on this one a strong citrus bergamot & mandarin fragrance which smells truly amazing, juicy and uplifting. Petitgrain is a welcome partner in here but I don’t get any oakmoss or anything that grounds the fragrance either in woods or greenness coming from something like vetiver? which it’s sadly lacking. Hate to nay say such a quality citrus but it’s too linear a composition and too expensive to excite me all that much.
lusuyleha – :
A fresh summer scent for a grown man. Absolutely stunning. Could be a signature scent.
9/10.